World Bank supports Ghana to improve education, water and sanitation

By Iddi
Yire, GNA

Accra, July 2, GNA – The World Bank has
approved two International Development Association credits of $ 85.7 million
for the Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP) and the Sustainable
Rural Water and Sanitation Project (SRWSP).

A statement issued by the World Bank and
copied to the Ghana News Agency said the SEIP received additional financing of
$ 40 million to support low-performing schools in the targeted 100 SEIP
districts as well as the 23 newly constructed schools by providing bursaries
(formerly scholarships) for needy students, improving and expanding facilities
in approximately 75 schools, and rolling out activities to improve the quality
of teaching and learning in all beneficiary schools.

“The proposed additional financing under the
SEIP would provide support to the achievement of better learning outcomes to
over 100 additional schools, nearly doubling the number of schools targeted
under the SEIP, while continuing to support activities to increase enrolment in
undersubscribed schools,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for
Ghana.

The statement said the SRWSP received
additional financing of $ 45.7 million to facilitate the construction of
additional 20,000 household toilets to the current 22,000 and assist additional
490 communities to be open defecation free.

It said the project would also finance water
supply systems that could not be completed from the original SRWSP.

The statement said these areas include the
Northern Region, the fluoride and the high salinity affected areas where access
to both adequate water supply and sanitation fall far below the national
average.

“The beneficiary regions under the SRWSP have
high rates of poverty and the completion of the project will reduce the
outbreak of diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea as well as communicable
diseases, leading to improvements in child health.

“Improved water and sanitation services
are also an integral part of the World Bank’s twin goals of ending extreme
poverty and promoting shared prosperity,” said Wambui Gichuri, World Bank Water
Practice Manager for Africa.

The World Bank’s International Development
Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by
providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that
boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives.

IDA is one of the largest sources of
assistance for the world’s 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa.

Resources from IDA bring positive change to
the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries.

Since 1960, IDA has supported development work
in 112 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $ 19 billion over the
last three years, with about 50 per cent going to Africa.